Guarded against overconfidence vs. MSU, Michigan focused on bringing Paul Bunyan Trophy back to Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Throw out the record books when it comes to rivalry games like Saturday’s tilt between Michigan and Michigan State, people often say. But with the No. 4 ranked team in the Wolverines facing an unranked 3-4 Spartans team, is there really a danger for the maize and blue on Saturday?
Yes, of course there is. And Michigan knows that.
Teams tend to get upset by others who are struggling usually when there’s a mixture of a better game plan from the underdog, as well as more physicality, and an overall lackadaisical attitude from the presumed favorite. Sometimes good teams get got, as some might say, and when that happens, it often is because the favorite comes into a matchup overconfident, so assured that it will win that it hasn’t put in the preparation or effort to win the game.
These Wolverines aren’t treating the Spartans that way this week.
Often, the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is said to be MSU’s super bowl, a game that matters most to that program, regardless of how either team is faring. The players inside Schembechler Hall are aware that they will get Michigan State’s best on Saturday night, and they’re preparing accordingly, as to ensure that no upset will happen.
“Football is a game anyone can lose. Anyone can lose any given day,” junior running back Blake Corum said. “And so I think we’re confident with ourselves, we’re confident with what we can do. I don’t think we’re overconfident just because of the type of team we are. You know, we treat every game like it’s a championship game. And so there’s no such thing as going into the game, ‘Like we’re about to dominate them.’ Obviously, we think that right? We want dominate them, but it’s not overconfidence, just being confident.
“And so I feel like that’s how we’re gonna go into this game — just confident. We understand the record isn’t the same as last year when we met, right? But we’re confident. We know they’re coming to play, they’re gonna give us their best game. And like I said, Saturday can’t come fast enough.”
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OK, so Michigan is preparing as it should, that’s check No. 1. What about complacency? Is there any part of this team that’s expecting to go in and just roll?
According to one defensive player, they feel like they’re ready and able, but take nothing for granted.
“I don’t think we’re complacent at all,” junior safety Makari Paige said. “We know what this game means, so I feel like there won’t be no overconfidence. Confidence is good, but not overconfidence. We still know the game plan. We still know what we’ve gotta do.”
After winning two in a row in this series, the Wolverines have lost two. Michigan was a three-score favorite coming into the Week 2 game hosting MSU in 2020, but ultimately faltered. Both teams were undefeated heading into East Lansing in 2021, and the Wolverines were still favored. After jumping out to a 16-point lead, Michigan squandered it, unable to hold on, and lost that one, too.
Thus, there is no lack of focus for this squad, knowing what’s happened each of the last two years. If there’s a point in which these Wolverines intend to relax, it’s once the game is won and Paul Bunyan resides back in the home team locker room.
“It’s not even like that’s a question for us — overconfidence,” senior receiver Cornelius Johnson said. “It can definitely be a factor. But for us, we’re not taking that into — we’ve just got one focus. And that’s bringing back the Paul Bunyan Trophy into Schembechler. ”
Michigan and MSU will kick off at 7:44 p.m. EDT on Saturday at The Big House. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
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